Guess What? B.J. Habibie

Being a top government official in charge of technology development in Indonesia does not prevent research and technology minister B.J. Habibie from reading numerous and various kinds of books.

"I spend most of my leisure time reading," Habibie, who is also chairman of the Agency for the Management of Strategic Industries, said during a hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives early this week.

He reads books on airplanes during his daily trip to his office and in his spare time at home. He immediately moves onto another book after finishing one.

However he stays well away from newspapers.

"Sometimes the newspapers criticize the technology development in Indonesia out of proportion," he said.

"It's better for me to read books on technology development rather than confusing myself with newspaper articles." he said. (imn)